Abstract
BackgroundA discrete choice experiment (DCE) is a method used to elicit participants’ preferences and the relative importance of different attributes and levels within a decision-making process. DCEs have become popular in healthcare; however, approaches to identify the attributes/levels influencing a decision of interest and to selection methods for their inclusion in a DCE are under-reported. Our objectives were: to explore the development process used to select/present attributes/levels from the identified range that may be influential; to describe a systematic and rigorous development process for design of a DCE in the context of thrombolytic therapy for acute stroke; and, to discuss the advantages of our five-stage approach to enhance current guidance for developing DCEs.MethodsA five-stage DCE development process was undertaken. Methods employed included literature review, qualitative analysis of interview and ethnographic data, expert panel discussions, a quantitative structured prioritisation (ranking) exercise and pilot testing of the DCE using a ‘think aloud’ approach.ResultsThe five-stage process reported helped to reduce the list of 22 initial patient-related factors to a final set of nine variable factors and six fixed factors for inclusion in a testable DCE using a vignette model of presentation.ConclusionsIn order for the data and conclusions generated by DCEs to be deemed valid, it is crucial that the methods of design and development are documented and reported. This paper has detailed a rigorous and systematic approach to DCE development which may be useful to researchers seeking to establish methods for reducing and prioritising attributes for inclusion in future DCEs.
Highlights
A discrete choice experiment (DCE) is a method used to elicit participants’ preferences and the relative importance of different attributes and levels within a decision-making process
Given the underreporting/lack of development work in DCE design in the field, we have developed a 5-stage process which offers a replicable and transparent strategy, with methods to identify a comprehensive list of attributes that may potentially influence a decision of interest
Underreporting of the design process highlights that procedures used to select the most salient attributes for inclusion in the final design need to be based on explicit criteria to permit a judgement about bias and external validity of the findings to be made
Summary
A discrete choice experiment (DCE) is a method used to elicit participants’ preferences and the relative importance of different attributes and levels within a decision-making process. Our objectives were: to explore the development process used to select/present attributes/levels from the identified range that may be influential; to describe a systematic and rigorous development process for design of a DCE in the context of thrombolytic therapy for acute stroke; and, to discuss the advantages of our five-stage approach to enhance current guidance for developing DCEs. A discrete choice experiment (DCE) is a method used to explore the relative importance of different attributes within a decision-making process. There is a lack of guidance on the optimal presentation of choice sets or decision alternatives in DCEs. The processes involved in the design of DCEs are often poorly described, with little or no detail reported regarding the procedures for selection of attributes/ levels in the final design. There is a dearth of guidance on procedures that can be undertaken to select the most salient attributes and their associated levels from the full range of attributes that may influence the decision of interest and, when reported, this information has been characterised as “excessively brief” [4]
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
